Dog whisperer Cesar Millan likes self-help books

With more than 25 years of experience, renowned dog behavior expert and New York Times best-selling author Cesar Millan is one of the most sought-after authorities in the field of dog behavior and rehabilitation. In March, Millan brings his unmatched canine abilities to communities terrorized by unruly hounds in Nat Geo Wilds’s new series Cesar 911.

During his nine-season run as host of the hit series Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, he rehabilitated hundreds of aggressive, scared, lazy, compulsive and jealous dogs, as well as the families that were usually in the dark about how their own behavior contributed to their dogs’ quirky traits.

Millan has grown into a pop culture phenomenon, including flattering parodies on South Park and Saturday Night Live; references on popular shows including Jeopardy! and The Colbert Report; and appearances on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, The View, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Millan has been recognized with numerous awards throughout his career, including Emmy nominations in 2006, 2007 and 2009 for Outstanding Reality Program. He continues to be recognized and awarded by rescue and animal welfare organizations for his commitment to the betterment of animals and their relationships with people around the world. Millan’s Dog Psychology Center in the Santa Clarita Valley stretches over 43 acres and includes a sheepherding area, swimming pool, agility course and hiking trails. It serves as the home base for his expanding slate of dog behavior and training courses and clinics, “Training Cesar’s Way.”

In addition to executive producing Cesar 911, Millan has co-authored six books, including Cesar Millan’s Short Guide to a Happy Dog (now available in paperback). He has also generated numerous instructional DVDs, and hosts a popular series of live training seminars, Cesar Live, where attendees learn how to apply his extensive knowledge of dog psychology and rehabilitation techniques. In 2007, Cesar officially launched the Cesar Millan Foundation, “a national, nonprofit organization designed to aid and support the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of abused and abandoned dogs.”

Millan has more than 20 years of experience with canines. His unique talent with dogs first developed on his grandfather’s farm in Mexico. In 1994, he came to the attention of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, who began referring him to other celebrities and friends. Other celebrity clients include Howie Mandel, Patti LaBelle, Vin Diesel, Nicolas Cage, Scarlett Johannson, Hilary Duff, Daisy Fuentes, Annie Potts, “Downtown” Julie Brown, and movie directors Ridley Scott and Michael Bay.

Millan was born in Culiacán, Mexico. He lives in Southern California and is the proud father of two sons, Andre and Calvin.

Cesar Millan’s top 10 favorite books:

1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. “This book taught me the importance of always following through.”

2. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. “Dogs live in the moment and this book teaches humans how to do the same. A very important part of my philosophy.”

3. The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer. “This book taught me to always dream big. Intention is the force that allows creation in the world.”

4. Making the Shift by Dr. Wayne Dyer. “I learned how to embrace uncertainty.”

5. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. “This is a code of ethics based on ancient Toltec beliefs, so very close to my heart and roots. It taught me that your emotions can affect your reality.”

6. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. “A poor mind = no money.”

7. Ethics for the New Millennium by the Dalai Lama. “The way we treat animals can reveal so much about our values.”

8. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra. “Life is a formula, and if you can figure that out you can make it add up to whatever you can imagine.”

9. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. “Life is simple; we make it complicated.”

10. Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins. “Tony Robbins has been a big influence on me from early on. This book teaches the power of believing in you.”

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Cesar Millan will be at Eastwood Central Plaza City on April 29, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at SM Tickets, Ticketnet Online and Ticket World. Ticket prices are as follows: gold (with meet and greet) P8,000; silver, P7,000; and bronze, P6,000. For ticket information, visit www.smtickets.com, www.ticketnet.com.ph, www.ticketworld.com.ph.

“The Reading Club” recommends Lean In Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg available in National Book Store and Powerbooks.

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You can reach me at gr.rodis@gmail.com. Follow me as @showbizmanila on twitter and Instagram.